A Call to Arms: Noble Armada in the offing

The forum for little figures blowing up other little figures.
User avatar
Lars Porsenna
Posts: 4778
Joined: Wed Jun 29, 2005 5:34 pm
Location: Manta, Ecuador

A Call to Arms: Noble Armada in the offing

Post by Lars Porsenna »

For those that recall the Fading Suns universe, and the A Call to Arms game (for Babylon 5), Mongoose is going to release an adaption for the Fading Suns Noble Armada line, with suitable tweaks to make it more in-line with the universe (perhaps powering down the weapons? More robust boarding rules?). I'm probably going to invest heavily, if for no other reason that FS is one of my favorite settings/games...

http://www.star-ranger.com/ACalltoArms.htm

Damon.
"Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum"
Modeling the Ecuadorian Military: https://ecuadorianmilitary.blogspot.com/
My Book Blog: http://bookslikedust.blogspot.com/
My Minis Blog: http://minislikedust.blogspot.com/
User avatar
NukeHavoc
Posts: 12106
Joined: Wed Jun 29, 2005 1:07 pm
Location: Easton, PA
Contact:

Re: A Call to Arms: Noble Armada in the offing

Post by NukeHavoc »

That's pretty cool. I always liked the Call to Arms system. It played nicely, and scaled well (at least in the games we tried).
"Oh, I'm so sorry. Forgive me. I'll try and be a tad more quiet as I desperately struggle to break free -- and save all creation!" -- Doctor Strange
User avatar
Lars Porsenna
Posts: 4778
Joined: Wed Jun 29, 2005 5:34 pm
Location: Manta, Ecuador

Re: A Call to Arms: Noble Armada in the offing

Post by Lars Porsenna »

"Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum"
Modeling the Ecuadorian Military: https://ecuadorianmilitary.blogspot.com/
My Book Blog: http://bookslikedust.blogspot.com/
My Minis Blog: http://minislikedust.blogspot.com/
User avatar
Lars Porsenna
Posts: 4778
Joined: Wed Jun 29, 2005 5:34 pm
Location: Manta, Ecuador

Re: A Call to Arms: Noble Armada in the offing

Post by Lars Porsenna »

If anyone is interested in trying this out, I picked up the rulebook at Historicon today, as well as 2 fleet boxes (Hawkwood and Decados). Very good deal: all for $72! This could be a pretty cheap game to invest in, since you could probably get a very playable force for a bit over $100 (2 fleet boxes, a couple cruisers, a dreadnaught, and maybe a few "special" ships, and the rules) making it a pretty cheap entry level game. The minis are nice too, so recommended!

Damon.
"Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum"
Modeling the Ecuadorian Military: https://ecuadorianmilitary.blogspot.com/
My Book Blog: http://bookslikedust.blogspot.com/
My Minis Blog: http://minislikedust.blogspot.com/
User avatar
erilar
Posts: 6580
Joined: Wed Jun 29, 2005 2:05 pm
Location: Kirkwall
Contact:

Re: A Call to Arms: Noble Armada in the offing

Post by erilar »

Is this the game that we saw at Origins? The one that Cory and Ken bought some minis for (to use in SWSE)?
"This enemy you cannot kill. You can only drive it back damaged into the depths, and teach your children to watch the waves for its return." - Quellcrist Falconer
User avatar
Lars Porsenna
Posts: 4778
Joined: Wed Jun 29, 2005 5:34 pm
Location: Manta, Ecuador

Re: A Call to Arms: Noble Armada in the offing

Post by Lars Porsenna »

Don't think so. At least some of the minis Cory bought were for Battletech.

Incidentially, if anyone wants to play Aerotech (ship-to-ship or fighter combat in the Battletech setting) let me know. I have a couple of corvettes and a few ASFs for some of that...

Damon.
"Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum"
Modeling the Ecuadorian Military: https://ecuadorianmilitary.blogspot.com/
My Book Blog: http://bookslikedust.blogspot.com/
My Minis Blog: http://minislikedust.blogspot.com/
User avatar
Hardcorhobbs
Posts: 5423
Joined: Mon Aug 01, 2005 7:38 am
Location: Fort Wadsworth

Re: A Call to Arms: Noble Armada in the offing

Post by Hardcorhobbs »

We bought the non-battletech ships from a guy making his own game. Last time I was at his site it seemed vacant. :/
User avatar
NukeHavoc
Posts: 12106
Joined: Wed Jun 29, 2005 1:07 pm
Location: Easton, PA
Contact:

Re: A Call to Arms: Noble Armada in the offing

Post by NukeHavoc »

Damon and I played this last night, and I have to say I still like it. The B5 version of A Call to Arms was a fun game, but not one we got to play much. The Fading Suns/Noble Armada setting fits the rules well.

As for Damon's point about it being affordable, that's partly relative to regular miniature games, which might cost you $200 or $300 to field a respectable fleet/army. The nice thing about Noble Armada is that you really only need a single fleet box, which retails for $30, but you might be able to get it for less. The book is $30; $17.95 for the PDF (but $14.39 right now on RPGNow because of their summer sale). $45, $50 isn't a lot to get into a game like this.

It's a good game. Ships can take a fair amount of damage, but not so much that the game devolves into a slug fest. You've got enough ships that you can divide up your forces if need be, and the critical system ensures that if you pound a ship hard enough, it's eventually going to meet a catastrophic end. Plus the minis look like they'd be a good fit for star wars.

I'm still reading through the book, but I'm thinking about picking up one of the fleet boxes next month.
"Oh, I'm so sorry. Forgive me. I'll try and be a tad more quiet as I desperately struggle to break free -- and save all creation!" -- Doctor Strange
User avatar
erilar
Posts: 6580
Joined: Wed Jun 29, 2005 2:05 pm
Location: Kirkwall
Contact:

Re: A Call to Arms: Noble Armada in the offing

Post by erilar »

Sounds like a fun game.
"This enemy you cannot kill. You can only drive it back damaged into the depths, and teach your children to watch the waves for its return." - Quellcrist Falconer
User avatar
NukeHavoc
Posts: 12106
Joined: Wed Jun 29, 2005 1:07 pm
Location: Easton, PA
Contact:

Re: A Call to Arms: Noble Armada in the offing

Post by NukeHavoc »

Damon - I've been reading through the book, and I like the system a lot. I'm going to buy a fleet box in August. I'm not sure which one yet, but probably one you don't have yet.
"Oh, I'm so sorry. Forgive me. I'll try and be a tad more quiet as I desperately struggle to break free -- and save all creation!" -- Doctor Strange
User avatar
Lars Porsenna
Posts: 4778
Joined: Wed Jun 29, 2005 5:34 pm
Location: Manta, Ecuador

Re: A Call to Arms: Noble Armada in the offing

Post by Lars Porsenna »

OK. Be aware that in the next 2 weeks I'm going to pick up the Hazat fleet box set. Not saying you can't, but I'm probably going to buy at least the fleet boxed set for all the factions over time (there's 9 now, a 10th is coming out, and it makes sense that they can expand it to 12)...

Damon.
"Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum"
Modeling the Ecuadorian Military: https://ecuadorianmilitary.blogspot.com/
My Book Blog: http://bookslikedust.blogspot.com/
My Minis Blog: http://minislikedust.blogspot.com/
User avatar
Hardcorhobbs
Posts: 5423
Joined: Mon Aug 01, 2005 7:38 am
Location: Fort Wadsworth

Re: A Call to Arms: Noble Armada in the offing

Post by Hardcorhobbs »

I'm so burnt out on mini's games I'm not sure I want to get back in... but it is starship combat... so maybe. I'd like to try it out next time for sure.
User avatar
NukeHavoc
Posts: 12106
Joined: Wed Jun 29, 2005 1:07 pm
Location: Easton, PA
Contact:

Re: A Call to Arms: Noble Armada in the offing

Post by NukeHavoc »

Lars Porsenna wrote:OK. Be aware that in the next 2 weeks I'm going to pick up the Hazat fleet box set. Not saying you can't, but I'm probably going to buy at least the fleet boxed set for all the factions over time (there's 9 now, a 10th is coming out, and it makes sense that they can expand it to 12)...
That's fine. I don't think we need to be exclusive when it comes to fleets.
"Oh, I'm so sorry. Forgive me. I'll try and be a tad more quiet as I desperately struggle to break free -- and save all creation!" -- Doctor Strange
User avatar
NukeHavoc
Posts: 12106
Joined: Wed Jun 29, 2005 1:07 pm
Location: Easton, PA
Contact:

Re: A Call to Arms: Noble Armada in the offing

Post by NukeHavoc »

Hardcorhobbs wrote:I'm so burnt out on mini's games I'm not sure I want to get back in... but it is starship combat... so maybe. I'd like to try it out next time for sure.
I hear you. For me it's scratching a particular space opera itch; the same one that The Lost Fleet books were scratching. Plus if I can get more minis to use in Star Wars, that's just a win all around. :)
"Oh, I'm so sorry. Forgive me. I'll try and be a tad more quiet as I desperately struggle to break free -- and save all creation!" -- Doctor Strange
User avatar
NukeHavoc
Posts: 12106
Joined: Wed Jun 29, 2005 1:07 pm
Location: Easton, PA
Contact:

Re: A Call to Arms: Noble Armada in the offing

Post by NukeHavoc »

Damon -- would you be up for a mid-week rematch?
"Oh, I'm so sorry. Forgive me. I'll try and be a tad more quiet as I desperately struggle to break free -- and save all creation!" -- Doctor Strange
Post Reply